Judy Watson

If you belong to IT or a business environment, you must know the Intel vPro platform. While this technology isn't new, with a wide range of enterprise-level applications for remote device management, many people are still unaware of its ins and outs. To bring clarity to this platform, here is everything you will need to become more acquainted with it. Let's get started.  The Working of Intel vPro:  Intel vPro seamlessly integrates with the IT departments of various businesses. It does so by connecting vPro devices via a pre-set-up console client software. The most common software that many companies use is SCCM (Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager). By utilizing pre-existing software, the platform removes the complexity related to its implementation and learning.  The primary purpose of the Intel vPro platform is to enable businesses to easily manage, diagnose and update their devices from a distance without needing a separate IT team to handle it. This remote functionality is integral for companies, particularly in today's hybrid and remote working scenario.  All of these modernized and remote management capabilities are facilitated by Intel Active Management Technology (AMT). It is a significant feature of the vPro platform that enables IT teams to access and interact with remote PCs anytime and anywhere, as long as they have internet connectivity. In short, IT teams have complete flexibility for out-of-band management.  Setup: The Intel AMT uses a secondary CPU on the motherboard, which allows the IT team to access and connect the device while running AMT and various tools.  When connected, IT teams can diagnose, update and perform all kinds of troubleshooting to resolve technical or security issues. Alongside, AMT supports KVM (keyboard-video-mouse). With this, IT teams have complete visibility and control to access the company's devices, enabling them to perform any functions on those devices.  Prerequisites to Set Up Intel vPro: To utilize the full potential of the Intel vPro platform, the companies must adhere to a few prerequisites as follows.  An Intel vPro processor An Intel networking card  The Intel Management Engine (corporate version) The Intel ME is basically a small computer with an operating system that runs on the IT team's CPU but with access to the device hardware (company side). Implementation of Intel vPro to Enterprise Devices: Introducing vPro to the IT environment is super easy. To get started, equip your employees with vPro-enabled devices. After that, your IT team will take over the device management part. Intel vPro chipsets are available in various computer platforms and mobile & desktop form factors. There is a wide range of vPro-enabled products. If you look at Lenovo products, there are Thinkpads (for business and workstations), 2 in 1 laptops, etc.  vPro Business Applications:  Intel vPro chipsets find their application in organizations with IT management environments. And also where the employees get managed in groups with different access levels and security needs. As a result, it gets widely adopted by both large enterprises with (>1000 employees) and medium size businesses (>500 employees).  Moreover, Intel offers a variety of plug-ins and support for various console software, which expands the vPro capabilities. You can easily implement Intel vPro with your company's existing technology.  The ultimate goal of the platform is to optimize remote device management. So whenever a user requires immediate care for their devices, they have the proper support at their disposal.  Suppose an employee device gets a virus, and they are at a remote location. In this situation, the IT team has two options: either they send someone out to the employee location to fix the issue or take over their device (without leaving the office) using Intel vPro to diagnose and repair it to good condition.  Besides this, OT teams can help the company with software installation and updates. Doing so ensures that every employee uses the same application and that all the company's devices are updated.  Is Intel vPro for General Public Usage? No. Intel vPro isn't for general public usage. It is because implementing vPro isn't easy for them. The users need console-management software (Enterprise OS and administrator console), which requires IT expertise.  Conclusion: Remote working has become a fundamental part of IT and will likely grow with time. So having such an effective and easy management solution like Intel vPro is indeed a blessing in disguise. It keeps you updated and reduces downtime. But also, as a business owner, it helps you get a competitive edge in this ever-evolving business environment where efficiency and time are integral. So for businesses, it is essential to be aware of vPro technology and its practices. 

Whether you want to buy a laptop for everyday use or work, or you just decided to upgrade or want to treat yourself to something new, there is a laptop for your needs. But how do you decide on one that is right for you? If you are planning to buy a laptop in Canada, these are quick questions you should ask yourself before zeroing in on one.  What laptop do you actually want? Irrespective you want to buy the laptop for the first time or upgrade it, you should have the answer to the question, as it will help you form the rest of the decision. If you simply watch (or will) videos or surf social media on your laptop, you probably don't need a thousand-dollar laptop, a basic laptop, like Chromebook, is enough to do the work. Alternatively, if you are looking for a machine that can aid you with intensive work like video editing or playing games, a budget-friendly laptop wouldn't work.  Here's what you need to do: Think about the work and situation where you find the need for a laptop. Here, the operating system has an integral role. Do you need Windows or Mac? You have to decide what you like and what fits your budget. Both OS comes with new features, and it's up to you to decide what model better serves your purpose.  Also, if you deal with a lot of file work, you would need an SSD card rather than a traditional hard drive. If you are an enthusiast gamer, you should look for a bigger screen and probably a powerful processor with lots of cores and loads of RAM.  Here's a quick glance at essential parts to look to buy a laptop: CPU: Intel and AMD are the popular processor brands that make CPUs in almost every Windows laptop. The latest models use Intel 12th and 11th-generation CPUs with versions ranging from i3 (basic) to i9 (the most powerful). On the other hand, AMD mobile processors range from Ryzen 3 series (basic) to the high-powered Ryzen 7 series. The Apple processor M1 is the basic version, whereas M1 Pro and M1 Max have better speed and functionalities.  RAM: This is what your laptop utilizes. RAM also impacts the processing speed, so you should consider this factor. For laptops, you should aim for at least 8GB RAM. Better if you go with more than that.  SSD: Solid state drives work like traditional hard drives but with some differences. And they are better. These drives help you access files faster and aren't prone to damage when dropped.  Screen: The bigger, the better. But you have to pay attention to what type of display your next laptop has. OLED screens have more vivid colours than LCD screens, but they are expensive. Also, if you need more space, go for a 3:2 aspect instead of a widescreen.  What features matter to you the most?  Now you must think about the features that can make your work easier. Most people stick with a built-in keyboard and trackpad, but if you are an artist or professional note-taker, consider buying a laptop with a touch screen and stylus. If you are selecting a Windows laptop, look for specs like battery life, WifiFi access (4G or 5G), and more. You can choose a hybrid laptop that you can fold and use as a tablet to make your work easier.  How much are you willing to spend?  If you don't have an additional desktop to support, you probably will spend a lot of time on your new laptop. So it's worth the investment. Make sure the model you choose is powerful and will support you in the longer run.  But that doesn't mean you have to spend all your money on a new laptop. Choose wisely depending on your needs. For regular laptop use, Chromebooks are the best and would cost you approximately $200 or more. Decent gaming laptops start from $1000 and depending on the specifications and features you choose, the price will increase.   Whatever laptop you choose, the price often tends to increase, which results in your laptop being expensive. The good news is you can get a top-line model and still save money on laptops on sale in Ontario. What you can do is, select the top laptop model and pair it with a discount offer. And there you go, you have the best of both worlds in terms of features and price.  Is your laptop easy to upgrade?  You have had a laptop for a few years, and it's starting to slow down when you perform demanding tasks. So what will you do? Upgrade! At some point in time, you will find the need to upgrade your laptop for any reason. So rather than buying a new laptop, you can upgrade it, breathe in some life and save a lot of money.  The most important upgrades in laptops are RAM and storage devices. If you want to check if your new laptop is upgradeable, check the manufacturer's website.  Conclusion: So that was it. Hope these questions will point you in the right direction to purchasing your new laptop. Keep these questions in consideration, and your half-work is done.